Kevin Durant reportedly stopped the Brooklyn Nets from trading away Kyrie Irving at some point last season.
According to FS1 NBA insider Ric Bucher on his On The Ball with Ric Bucher podcast (h/t Hoops Hype), KD shot down the idea of a Kyrie trade, and the Nets decided to honor his wishes.
Bucher added that he has been told Durant and Irving are still good friends, but Durant may no longer value Kyrie as a teammate as much as he did when he reportedly prevented the Nets from trading him.
Last season, the Nets initially vowed to not let Irving play at all unless he received the COVID-19 vaccine since New York City protocols would have prevented him from playing in the team's home games.
Eventually, the Nets softened their stance, as multiple players went down with injuries, while others tested positive for COVID-19. That opened the door for Kyrie to be a part-time player, appearing only in road games.
The NYC protocols were ultimately changed by the end of the season, allowing Irving to play at Barclays Center despite not being vaccinated.
Despite the presence of Durant and Irving, the Nets were swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics.